Within two weeks Europe will know whether Eurovision 2015 will take place in Vienna, Insbruck or Graz. The latter already seems to be out of the race, while Innsbruck continues to ride a wave of goodwill from municipal authorities who have the financial means to pull off a great event. Even so, Vienna’s Stadthalle is our readers’ favourite. Here are some reasons why it ORF and the EBU should understand it is the best option. 

As kurier.at reports, Wiener Stadhalle presents several advantages, mostly financial. First of all, technicians and journalists from ORF wouldn’t have to move from their base. Let’s say that the contest is held in the winter resort of Innsbruck. At least 200 people would have to re-locate from Vienna, and this would cost approximately 500,000 euros when you add up hotels, transport, and other incidentals. That’s a considerable ammount of money, judging from how much the Danes spent during this year’s contest.

wiener stadthalle    wiener stadthalle

Moreover, it has enough space to feature the backstage inside the arena, unlike every other venue in contention. Do you remember the horror of having the green room for contestants in a separate building during Eurovision 2013? Emmelie de Forest almost missed her encore!

ORF dreams big, and they really do not want a capacity of less than 12,000 spectators. Huge arenas make life easier for fans (who want tickets) and for press (who would like the press centre to be in or near the actual stage). In addition, the income from ticket sales at Stadthalle would be greater than in either Graz or Innsbruck, owing to Wiener Stadthalle’s greater capacity. It’s about money honey.

wiener stadthalle

The big bosses from the EBU have every right to support Vienna. Eurovision is about the music for sure. But for diehard fans, EBU officials and the delegations who spend two weeks in the city, it’s also important to enjoy the cuisine, the transport links and other fundamentals of culture and convenience. Everyone would agree that Wien has all these.

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Tobias
Tobias
9 years ago

@ George, but biggest city doesn’t mean biggest arena. The venue sizes between the Austrian cities aren’t that different.
Besides, Olympiahalle Innsbruck has a smaller arena that’s directly attached to it and holds an additional 3,000 people. I think putting the green room in there and filling it with people on slightly cheaper tickets could make for a great atmosphere.

George
9 years ago

@ Tobias

Of course it’s about the audience and the best TV show but usually (always) the biggest city can produce the best TV show…. This year the stage was huge and amazing but there was tooooooo little room for people watching live.

Tobias
Tobias
9 years ago

Eurovision isn’t made for the people in the arena. It’s made for the audience watching from home. It should be hosted in whatever city ORF feels it can produce the best TV show.

Darren
Darren
9 years ago

Eurovision should be hosted in the capital (or largest) city of the host nation, unless of course you are a country like Germany or the United Kingdom which have large cities like Dusseldorf or Birmingham to use. Countries like Austria, Ireland, Sweden, etc shouldn’t really have a bidding stage for this, because there is only 1 suitable city. (Vienna being the case this year.) Although Innsbruck looks charming, I do not believe it is a suitable host city, due to transport links or even tourist sites. Whereas in Vienna, (a world class, world famous and friendly city) you have excellent… Read more »

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Guys, Seriously

What was wrong with Malmo?????????????????????? :'( It was a great show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

George
9 years ago

@ Karl

Stop the preparations before it’s tooooo late…

Karl
Karl
9 years ago

Who says Graz is already out!? We are still preparing for a potential Eurovision show here!

alex
alex
9 years ago

Innsbruck is a small city, not appropriate for a grand show like Eurovision!

Vienna is the right city and Wienier Stadhalle is the best option. It has played the host for many concerts and it’s big enough for Eurovision! Plus, fans and delegations would love to stay in Vienna.

ORF better not pull another Malmo!

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

LOL George and Petar. You remind me of the comment I once saw about the situation where San Marino wins Eurovision and they host the contest in Valentina’s backyard.

I mean, anything can happen. Remember Millstreet?

Ali Nella Houd
Ali Nella Houd
9 years ago

Don’t forget another important advantage of the Wienerstadthalle: it will enable people familiar with US slang to make “wiener” jokes about the contest, along with all the “wurst” jokes that Conchita has kick-started.
(=oO

George
9 years ago

@ Petar Dmitriev
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Very interesting proposal. If Bulgaria wins you should think out of the box. Do something memorable and unique. I’m still angry with Danes who didn’t hosted Eurovision in that jail. And they souldn’t even construct a tend. Wet spactators could symbolize their navy tradition.

Petar Dmitriov
Petar Dmitriov
9 years ago

If Bulgaria win, forget Sofia’s huge arena, host it in my school auditorium which can fit 500 people. We have no hotels in my village so we’ll make everyone spare a room for delegation and fans. Press centre? Mrs Yankulova’s maths room can do that. Entertainment? The Maleheunov farm will give you a tour of their lemon plantation. That’s what it’ll eventually come down to!

D
D
9 years ago

I’m not even going but please let it be in Vienna.

Darren
Darren
9 years ago

Agreed with George.
There are loads of large cities in Germany. so Dusseldorf 2011 was understandable.
But Stockholm should have hosted in 2013 and Vienna should host in 2015.
Was this bidding phase always there? Or is it a new relatively new thing?

George
9 years ago

This joke goes too far. Germany was the first country back in 2011 that decided not to host Eurovision in Berlin but in another CITY. BUT Germany is a huge country with many cities( not towns!),so their decision had a point. It’s stupid countrys that has only one city to think : “Hm where should ihost it ?” Eurofans and jurnalists want to combine Eurovision with vacation. They dont wanna go to see Eurovision and spend the rest of their day in a hotel room having nothing else to do. Innsbruck: 120.000 people Gratz:250.000 people with a tiny venue. Seriously?… Read more »

beccaboo1212
9 years ago

VI(enna), puh-lease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

Regardless where the contest is held, be it Vienna, Innsbruck or Graz, I would say that most people will be flying into Vienna International Airport anyway. Just like most people flew into Copenhagen when Malmo hosted it 2 years ago.

Darren
Darren
9 years ago

YES!! Someone at Wiwibloggs should totally send this to ORF or the EBU.
Vienna, please!!! Its a no brainer.
Most Eurovision fans will probably be flying into Vienna International Airport anyway, because Im pretty sure Innsbruck hasnt got the best airline links with Europe.
I will do anything to see a Eurovision held in the most beautiful capital that is, Vienna!!